Granny Smith and Gala Apples

My journey through the world of apples continues today with two new (to me) cultivars:

The Granny Smith was super tasty, very tart, with a unique liquid juiciness to it separate from the solid fleshy texture. The skin seems a bit tougher or thicker than the Red and Golden Delicious ones I’ve tried so far, but it doesn’t detract from the presentation at all.

This may be one of my new favorite fruits. Like candy, but so much better. Imagine buying a piece of tart candy that size. How much would it cost you? How would you feel after eating it? How would you feel about eating it?

I love the name, too — I imagine an old grandma who has a tart tongue, a family matriarch, immortalized in the name of a sweet treat. Even more interesting in that there was a Granny Smith. According to its Wikipedia article, this ‘cultivar (originated) in Australia around 1865 from a chance seedling propagated by Marie Ana (Granny) Smith. It is thought to be a seed from Malus sylvestris, the European Wild Apple, with the domestic apple M. domestica as the pollenizer; if this origin is correct, it is a hybrid.’ However, it didn’t arrive in the United States until 1972. Their loss.

Next up, after a palate-cleansing with water, was the Gala apple. My first impression was, ‘Wow, this is different.’ I enjoyed that initial taste, but it was very different than the other apple varities I’ve tried so far. Not as juicy or out-and-out flavorful as the Granny Smith, but still tasty. Skin much thinner than the last, as well. According to the all-knowing Wikipedia: ‘Gala apples were developed in New Zealand in the 1920s by orchardist J.H. Kidd. They are a cross between a Golden Delicious and a Kidd’s Orange Red.’

There was a subtle, familiar taste in the background I was trying to figure out for a few bites, then tracked it to an licorice/anise taste (confirmed by Tom Bridge as a star anise taste in the skin). Not overwhelming by any means, but an interesting counterpoint.

So two successful taste tests today. Many thanks to Granny Smith and J.H. Kidd the Orchardist — both from Down Under, coincidentally — for your work. The world is a better place thanks to you.